New UK Immigration Rules: Care Firms Must Hire Local Migrant Workers First

The UK government has brought in new regulations for employing staff within the care industry. From April 9, 2025 care businesses will be required to demonstrate that they have made an effort to recruit migrant staff already in the UK before they are able to recruit abroad. It is part of the UK’s drive to cut the number of individuals entering from legal migration.

The reform follows claims of exploitation of staff under the Health & Care Visa, established in 2020. High fees were demanded from many for sponsorship, with others being invited to the UK to find none. More than 470 sponsor licenses in the care industry were withdrawn because of these abuses.

The government is also raising the minimum wage for care workers up to 12.82 pounds per hour and stamping out abuse of student visas. The aim is to cut back on foreign recruitment and give existing workers fair treatment.